Storage and reproduction apparatus

ABSTRACT

The storage and reproducing apparatus includes a signal processing block, a memory, a reproduction block, an operation block, and a control block. The signal processing block converts a sound signal entered, into a digital signal. The memory stores a digital signal outputted form the signal processing block and a management data of the digital data. The reproduction block at least converts a digital signal read out from the memory, into a hearable sound for reproduction output. The operation block is provided on an apparatus main body and includes a rotary operation block provided on the apparatus main body in such a manner that the rotary operation block can be rotated around a rotation center and shifted along plane which almost orthogonally intersects the rotation center. The control block, according to an input from the operation block, writes a digital signal and a management data into the memory and reads out a digital signal and a management data stored in the memory. The control block, according to a rotation direction of the rotary operation block, reads out a management data from the memory. When the rotary operation block is shifted along the plane, the control block reads out a digital signal from the memory according to a management information which is being read out from the memory.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to a storage and reproductionapparatus, and in particular to a storage and reproduction apparatususing a semiconductor memory.

[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art

[0004] Nowadays, there are recording/reproduction apparatus which caneasily be used for recording/reproducing a sound just like writing downcontents of a lecture or discussion on a memo paper. Such arecording/reproduction apparatus uses a semiconductor memory as arecording medium for storing a sound signals as a predetermined numberof files and the sound signal is reproduced to output a sound. Morespecifically, the recording/reproduction apparatus stores a sound dataconsisting of a plurality of files in a semiconductor memory and uponreproduction, successively reproduces the sound data, starting with anolder file.

[0005] When writing down contents of a discussion on a memo notebook,the latest content is written on a later page of the memo notebook.Accordingly, when reading the contents afterward, it is necessary toturn pages to read the latest contents.

[0006] This incovenience is also met in a recording/reproductionapparatus which stores a latest sound as a last file in a semiconductormemory, which requires search of the file containing the latest soundprior to reproducing the latest sound.

[0007] Those files stored in memory can be erased wheny they have becomeunnecessary. However, when there is a necessity to reproduce a file orwhen new files are successively stored without any time to erase them,more important files tend to be recorded at the last write-in address orread-out address of memory. Accordingly, as more and more files arerecorded, there will be contained more files which are scarcely to beaccessed. Those files which are not so important are first to be readout from memory to be reproduced and the latest file which has been justrecorded tends to be the last to be reproduced.

[0008] That is, when a user wants to reproduce a sound data of thelatest important file, he/she needs to carry out an operation for searchthe target latest file from a plurality of files stored in memory. Thisrequires a complicated operation procedure to read out a necessary filefrom memory and reproduce it.

[0009] In order to read out from memory and reproduce a target sounddata in the aforementioned recording/reproduction apparatus using asemiconductor memory, a user needs to operate a plurality of operationbuttons such as a reproduction button, forward direction search button,and reverse direction search button. More specifically, when a pluralityof data pieces are recorded in a semiconductor memory, prior toreproduction, it is necessary to press a forward direction search buttonand a reverse direction search button to select a target data piece tobe reproduced so that an index number of the target data piece isdisplayed in a display block of the apparatus. After this, areproduction button is pressed so as to reproduce the target sound data.Here, if a plenty of index numbers are involved, the user needs tocontinuously press the search button so as to display the target indexnumber.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0010] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide astorage and reproducing apparatus which resolves the above-mentionedproblem.

[0011] According to the present invention, there is provided a storageand reproducing apparatus including a memory, a reproduction block, anoperation block, and a control block. The memory stores a data enteredand an auxiliary data for the entered data. The reproduction blockreproduces a data which has been read out from the memory. The operationblock is provided on an apparatus main body. The operation blockincludes a rotary operation block provided on the apparatus main body insuch a manner that the rotary operation block can be rotated around arotation center and shifted along a plane which almost orthogonallyintersects the rotation center. The control block, according to an inputfrom the operation block, carries out writing of a data and an auxiliarydata into the memory and read-out of a data stored in the memory. Thecontrol block, according to the rotation direction of the rotaryoperation block, reads out an auxiliary data from the memory, and whenthe rotary operation block is moved in the direction of the plane, readsout a data from the memory so as to be reproduced by the reproductionblock according to an auxiliary data read out from the memory.

[0012] According to another aspect of the present invention, there isprovided a storage and reproducing apparatus including a memory, areproduction block, an operation block, and a control block. The memorystores a data entered and a management data for the entered data. Thereproduction block reproduces a data which has been read out from thememory. The operation block is provided on an apparatus main body. Thecontrol block, according to an input from the operation block, carriesout writing of a data and a management data into the memory and read-outof a data stored in the memory. The control block rewrites a managementdata so that a new data written into the memory is read out prior to thedata already stored in the memory.

[0013] According to still another aspect of the present invention, thereis provided a storage and reproducing apparatus including a memory, areproduction block, an operation block, and a control block. The memorystrores a data entered and a management data fr the entered data. Thereproduction block reproduces a data which has been read out from thememory. The operation block is provided on an apparatus main body. Thecontrol block, according to an input from the operation block, carriesout writing of a data and a management data into the memory and read-outof a data stored in the memory. The control block operates as follows.If an instruction of a data write is issued from the operation blockduring a reproduction operation by the reproduction block, the controlblock interrupts the reproduction operation by the reproduction blockand starts a data write into the memory.

[0014] According to yet still another aspect of the present invention,there is provided a storage and reproducing apparatus including a signalprocessing block, a memory, a reproduction block, an operation block,and a control block. The signal processing block converts a sound signalentered, into a digital signal. The memory stores a digital signaloutputted from the signal processing block and a management data for thedigital signal. The reproduction block reproduces a digital signal whichhas been read out from the memory. The operation block is provided on anapparatus main body and includes a rotary operation block provided onthe apparatus main body in such a manner that the rotary operation blockcan be rotated around a rotation center and shifted along a plane whichalmost orthogonally intersects the rotation center. The control block,according to an input from the operation block, carries out writing of adigital signal and a management data into the memory and read-out of adigital signal and a management data stored in the memory. The controlblock operates as follows. According to the rotation direction of therotary operation block, the control block reads out a management data,and when the rotary operation block is moved along the aforementionedplane, the control block reads out a digital data from the memoryaccording to a management data read out from the memory.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0015]FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a specific configuration of anIC recorder according to the present invention.

[0016]FIG. 2 is an external front view of the IC recorder.

[0017]FIG. 3 shows a configuration of a semiconductor memory of the ICrecorder.

[0018]FIG. 4 shows a configuration of an eternal block of thesemiconductor memory.

[0019]FIG. 5 shows a configuration of an index stage block constitutedby a file data of the semiconductor memory.

[0020]FIG. 6 shows a configuration of an ADR data block of the indexstage block.

[0021]FIG. 7 shows a configuration of an HDR data block of the indexstage block.

[0022]FIG. 8 shows a configuration of an index stage block constitutedby a file data of the semiconductor memory.

[0023]FIG. 9 shows a configuration of a work area block of thesemiconductor memory.

[0024]FIG. 10 shows a configuration of a PCM data block of thesemiconductor memory.

[0025]FIG. 11 explains a recording position of a new sound data stored.

[0026]FIG. 12 is a flowchart explaining a CPU operation whenadditionally recording a new sound data as of ID number 02.

[0027]FIG. 13 shows a configuration of an ADR data of the index stageblock when a new sound data is additionally recorded as of ID number 02.

[0028]FIG. 14 explains a storage position of a new sound dataadditionally recorded as of ID number 02.

[0029]FIG. 15A and FIG. 15B explain a configuration of a jog dial: FIG.15A is an external front view of the jog dial and FIG. 15B is anexternal rear view of the jog dial.

[0030]FIG. 16 shows rotation directions of a rotation operation memberin connection with signals outputted as a result of a jog dial rotationoperation together with corresponding output waveforms.

[0031]FIG. 17 explains an operation of a rotary operation memberassociated with a cue/review reproduction and a reproduction statetransition corresponding to the operation of the rotary operationmember.

[0032]FIG. 18 a processing carried out when the rotary operation memberis rotated or pressed in a stop state.

[0033]FIG. 19 shows a processing carried out when the rotary operationmember s rotated or pressed in a sound data reproduction state.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0034] Hereinafter, description will be directed to a storage andreproducing apparatus according to embodiments of the present inventionwith reference to the attached drawings. In the embodiments describedbelow, explanation will be given on a recording/reproduction apparatus(hereinafter, referred to simply as an IC recorder) using asemiconductor memory for recording or reproducing a sound signal.

[0035] Referring to FIG. 1, this IC recorder 1 includes: a recordingblock 10 for converting an analog sound signal from a microphone 11,into a digital sound data and storing the digital sound data in asemiconductor memory 9; a reproduction block 20 for reading out thesound data stored in the semiconductor memory 9 and converting the readout sound data into an analog sound signal for reproduction output froma speaker 24; a control block 30 for controlling apparatus componentsincluding the recording block 10; a display block 40 fr displaying anoperation state and an operation procedure; and an operation block 50through which a user enters various operations.

[0036] The recording block 10 has: an amplifier 12 for amplifying a ananalog sound signal outputted from the microphone 11; an automatic gaincontroller (hereinafter, referred to as AGC) circuit for adjusting alevel of the sound signal amplified by the amplifier 12; an encoder 14for converting the sound signal from the AGC 13, into a sound data; anda buffer memory 15 for temporarily accumulating the sound data from theencoder 14.

[0037] In the recording block 10, the microphone 11 converts a speaker'svoice into an analog signal for supply to the amplifier 12. Theamplifier 12 amplifies the analog sound signal for supply to the AGC13.The AGC 13 amplifies the signal from the amplifier 12 so that the analogsound signal is at a proper level for supply to the encoder 14.

[0038] Because the analog sound signal supplied via the AGC 13 has astrong temporal correlation, the encoder 14 employs, for example, theadaptive differential pulse code modulation (hereinafter, referred toADPCM) to encode an analog sound signal with a small data amount, tocreate a digital sound data and supplies the created sound data to thebuffer memory 15. The encoder 14 can adjust a sound data coding amountaccording to two modes. For example, in an SP mode, a sound signal issampled with an 8 kHz sampling frequency if in an SP mode and with a 4kHz sampling frequency if in an LP mode so as to adjust a sound signalcoding amount in the temporal axis direction.

[0039] The buffer memory 15 temporarily accumulates a sound datasupplied from the encoder and supplies the accumulated data to thesemiconductor memory 9.

[0040] The semiconductor memory 19 is constituted, for example, by anelectrical erasable/programmable read only memory (hereinafter, referredto as an EEPROM), i.e., an non-volatile semiconductor memory whichmaintains a storage content of a storage element even if a memory drivepower is turned off. This semiconductor memory 9 stores a sound datasupplied from the buffer memory 15 and a management information(hereinafter, referred to as a TOC information) for carrying out amanagement, for example, which sound data is stored in which area. Morespecifically, the semiconductor memory 9 is, fr example, a NAND typeflash memory having a storage capacity of 4M×16 bits or 8×16 M bits,enabling to store a sound data corresponding to a sound signal of apredetermined frequency band for 30 minutes. For example, when thememory 9 has a storage capacity of 8×16 M bits, it is possible to storea sound data corresponding to a sound signal of 200 to 3400 Hz for 16minutes in the aforementioned SP mode and to store a sound datacorresponding to a sound signal of 200 to 1700 Hz for 24 minutes in theaforementioned LP mode.

[0041] On the other hand, the reproduction block 20, as shown in FIG. 1,has a decoder 21 for converting a sound signal read from thesemiconductor memory 9, into a sound signal, a filter 22, and anamplifier 23 for amplifying the sound data from the filter 22 for supplyto a loud speaker 24.

[0042] The decoder 21 corresponds to the encoder 14 of the recordingblock 10, and decodes a sound data which has been encoded by the ADPCMmethod, so as to create a so-called PAM signal. The flter 22 removes ahigh frequency component exceeding a voice freqeuncy band from the PAMsignal and outputs an analog sound signal. The amplifier 23 amplifiesthe analog sound signal supplied from the filter 22. The loud speaker 24is driven according to a signal from the amplifier 23. Thus, a soundrecorded in the memory 9 is outputted from the loud speaker 24.

[0043] The control block 30 includes: a ROM 31 containing a program forcontrolling the IC recorder; a microcomputer (hereinafter, referred toas a CPU) 32 for executing he program stored in the ROM 31 to controlrespective blocks; a random access memory (hereinafter, referred to as aRAM) 34 for temporarily storing the time of a timer 33 for creating aclock information, a program execution result, and the like; and acounter 35 for counting pulses supplied from a jog dial which will bedetailed later. The control block 30, according to an operation settingof the operation block 50, carries out operation control of respectivecomponents of the apparatus 1.

[0044] The display block 40 displays an operation state of the ICrecorder 1 and a sound data storage state according to a control signalfrom the control block 30 and includes a liquid crystal display panel 41and a back light 42 for illuminating this liquid crystal display panel41.

[0045] The operation block 50 supplies various input signals to thecontrol block 30 when carrying out a sound recording/reproduction. Theoperation block 50 has various operation buttons, operation switches,and a jog dial to be operated by a user as will be detailed later. Inthe IC recorder 1, various output signals from these operationbuttons/switches ad the jog dial are supplied to the control block 30.

[0046] The CPU 32 of the control block 30, according to a signalsupplied from the operation block 50, reads out from the ROM 31 andexecutes a corresponding program and controls the respective blocksaccording to the program which has been read out. For example, if arecording start button which will be detailed later is pressed, the CPU32 reads out from the ROM 31 and executes a program corresponding to arecording operation and controls to operate the amplifier 12, the AGC13, the encoder 14, the display block 40, and the like according to theprogram which has been read out, so that a sound data temporarilyaccumulated in the buffer memory 15 is written in an empty area of thesemiconductor memory, for example. For reproduction of a sound data, theCPU 32 reads out from the ROM 31 and executes a program corresponding toa reproduction operation and according to the program which has beenread out, control to operate the decoder 21, the filter 22, theamplifier 23, the display block 40, and the like, so that a sound datastored in a predetermined area of the semiconductor memory 9 is read outand converted into an analog sound signal so as to be outputted from theloud speaker 24.

[0047] Thus, the control block 30 controls a sound data writing andreading out into/from the semiconductor memory 9 and write up to 99sound data pieces, for example, into the semiconductor memory 9 byadding an index number to identify each of the sound data pieces.According to the index number added to each of the sound data pieces,the control block 30 controls to read out a target sound data piece fromthe semiconductor memory 9.

[0048] Next, explanation will be given on the operation block 50 of theIC recorder 1 with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG. 2 is an externalview briefly showing an external configuration of the IC recorder 1. TheIC recorder shown in FIG. 2 is a portable type has an external casing 2of a size to be grasped by one hand. In this external casing 2 isarranged a printed circuit board (not depicted) where the aforementionedelectric circuits such as recording block 10 and the reproduction block20 are mounted. On a main surface 2 a of this external casing 2 arearranged the aforementioned liquid crystal display panel 41 an the loudspeaker 24.

[0049] This IC recorder 1 has on the main surface 2 a and side surfacesof the external casing 2, various operation buttons/switches 51 to 57constituting the operation block 50 and the jog dial 60. The buttons andswitches of the operation block 50 are arranged on the main surface 2 aand the side surfaces of the casing 2 and can be operated with left handfingers while the entire IC recorder 1 is held on the left hand palm sothat a the user can continue a work such as writing with his/her righthand.

[0050] The operation buttons involved here are, as shown in FIG. 2, FILEbutton 51, MENU button 52, PRIORITY button 53, STOP button 54 forstopping a recording or the like, REC button 55 for starting arecording, and ERASE button for erasing a sound data stored in thesemiconductor memory 9. These operation buttons are arranged on the mainsurface 2 a for the external casing 2. A HOLD switch 57 of slide type isprovided at a lower half of a left side surface 2 b of the externalcasing 2. The operation bloc 50 also includes, although not depicted, abutton for turning on the back light 42 of the liquid crystal displaypanel 41, a volume switch for adjusting loudness of a reproduced sound,an earphone jack, and the like which are arranged on a side surface ofthe external casing 2.

[0051] Here, the FILE button 51 is used to switch between a plurality offiles set in the IC recorder 1. The term file corresponds to a directoryor folder used in a personal computer. In this embodiment, five types offiles are set beforehand. That is, in this IC recorder 1, each of hefiles can store up to 99 sound data pieces. The file types can beidentified by displaying different icons on the liquid crystal displaypanel 41.

[0052] The MENU button 52 is used to operate during a stop state ofrecording/reproduction so as to modify the initial setting of the ICrecorder 1 such as modification of a data and time, modification of afrequency band of a sound data to be recorded, modification of output ofa beep sound and alarm sound given upon pressing of the operationbuttons, modification of sensitivity of the microphone, and the like.

[0053] The PRIORITY button 53 is pressed during a reproduction operationor a stop state of the apparatus 1 so as to determine the reproductionpriority for a sound stored in the memory 9. When this PRIORITY button53 is pressed, an index number of a target sound data such as a datawhich is being reproduced is modified to a smaller number. In that file,a sound data having an index number modified by the PRIORITY button 53is reproduced with a higher priority.

[0054] The HOLD switch 57 is used to maintain an operation state or astop state of the IC recorder 1. When this HOLD switch 57 is in ONstate, the IC recorder 1 is in a state not to accept operation of theoperation buttons 51 to 56 and the jog dial 60. The configuration of thejog dial 60 and a reproduction operation using the jog dal 60 will bedetailed later.

[0055] Here, as shown in FIG. 3, when a sound data and other data arestored in the semiconductor memory 9, the data is divided into 512blocks which are erase units. These blocks are grouped into six types asfollows: an eternal block (1 block), index stage 0 blocks (6 blocks),index stage 1 locks (6 blocks), a back-up block (1 block), work areablocks (15 blocks), and PCM data blocks (469 blocks).

[0056] The aforementioned TOC information consists of the eternal block,index stage 0 block, index stage 1 block back-up block, and work areablock. A sound data is written into PCM data blocks.

[0057] As shown in FIG. 3, each of the blocks consists of 16 pages (eachpage consisting of 528 bytes): page 0, page 1, . . . , page 14, page 15.Each one page consists of a 512-byte data area and a 16-byte redundantarea. Ten blocks at maximum exist as blocks disabled for data recordingand/or reproduction (hereinafter, referred to as invalid blocks).

[0058] The eternal block is provided other than at the first and thelast blocks of the memory 9, .e., other than at the memory write-in orread-out start and end addresses. The eternal block contains amanagement information which is first to be read out from the memory 9.According to the data of the eternal block, the index stage 0 blocks andthe index stage 1 blocs are read out. Thus, the eternal block isindispensable for reading out a data stored in the other blocks andaccordingly located at a position other than the head and end addressesof the memory 9 which have the highest possibility of destruction uponan abnormal operation such as static electricity and an abnormalvoltage. For example, if a block containing a sound data is destroyed,the data in the broken block can be erased so that a new sound data canbe recorded without any problem. However, if the eternal block isdestroyed, no data can be read out from the other blocks. To avoid sucha situation, the eternal block is located, as has been described above,at other than the blocks of the the memory 9 start and end addresses.

[0059] In the eternal block, only page 0 contains a data, and pages 1 to15 contain no data. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 4, page 0 of theeternal block includes a 4-byte eternal block recognition data, 2-byteeternal block address, 2-byte index stage 0 address, 2-byte index stage1 address, 2-byte work area block start address, 4-byte dummy data, and128-byte blank map. The blank map indicates locations of theaforementioned invalid blocks.

[0060] The index stage 0 blocks and the index stage 1 blocks have anidentical data configuration and these blocks are alternately rewrittenfor each sound data rewriting. That is, when a sound data is written inthe memory 9, for example, a data in an index stage 0 block isrewritten, and when another sound data is written in the memory 9, adata in an index stage 1 block is rewritten. Hereinafter, these blockswill be referred to as index stage blocks in general.

[0061] As has been described, there are 6 index stage blocks for stage 0and stage 1, respectively: five blocs containing a file data and oneblock containing a stage data.

[0062]FIG. 5 shows a configuration of an index stage block having a filedata which consists of an ADR data block of page 0 to page 11 and an HDRblock of page 12 to page 15.

[0063]FIG. 6 shows a configuration of the ADR data block, which has, forexample, ID numbers 01 to 06; SP which indicates the recording mode SPor LP corresponding to a coding amount by the aforementioned encoder 14for each of the files containing a sound data; STH indicating an upperstart address and STM indicating a lower start address of the file; ENHindicating an upper end address and ENM indicating a lower end addressof the file.

[0064] For example, when 6 sound data pieces are recorded, as shown inFIG. 7, in the ADR data block, index numbers 01 to 06 are recordedcorresponding to the six sound data pieces. This index number is a dataindicating a reproduction sequence of the six sound data piecesrecorded. For each of the index numbers, recording mode (SP) togetherwith a start address (STH, STM) and an end address (ENH, ENM) of thearea containing the sound data are recorded. Because the sound of theindex number 01 and the sound data of the index number 03 have a largecapacity, as shown in FIG. 6, the index number 0l consists of two filesand the index number 03 consists of four files, for example. In thiscase, for each of the files, a recording mode and a start address and anend address are recorded.

[0065]FIG. 7 shows a configuration of the HDR block. The following arerecorded for each file; PRI indicating a file priority set by operationof the PRIORITY button 53 of the operation block 50; ALM indicatingON/OFF of the alarm setting by the operation of the MENU button 52; AMO,ADA, AHO, AMI, and AOW indicating the month, day, hour, minute, day ofthe week when the alarm is to be actuated. Here, as has been describedabove, the priority indicates a reproduction priority of a sound datawhen the sound data is reproduced. The HDR data block is updated whenthe priority or alarm setting is modified by operation of the PRIORITYbutton 53 and the MENU button 52 even if no sound data is updated.

[0066] On the other hand, the index stage block containing a stage data,as shown in FIG. 8, has a valid mark on page 0, a mode interruption modeon page 1, a blank map on page 2, an eternal block blank map on page 3.

[0067] The back-up block is a back-up for the aforementioned eternalblock and is a copy of the eternal block. Consequently, when the eternalblock is rewritten, the back-up block is also rewritten. There may bemore than one back-up blocks.

[0068] The work area block is an area for temporarily recording an indexdata during a sound data recording. As shown in FIG. 9, the work areablock has an almost identical data configuration as the index stageblock. The work area block contains an index number, SP/LP informationindicating the recording mode, a sound data upper start address, a sounddata lower start address, a sound data upper end address, a sound datalower end address, each of which consists of 1 byte. In this work areablock, while reading data from the work area block, the index stageblock is rewritten and the data such as the start address is directlywritten as it is.

[0069] The PCM data block is an area where a sound data is mainlyrecorded. AS shown in FIG. 10, in the PCM data block, each one pagecontains besides a sound data, the year, month, day, hour, minumte,second, and day of the week created by the timer 33 are also recorded.More specifically, a 512-byte sound data, 1-byte data of year, 1-bytedata of month, 1-byte data of day, 1-byte data of hour, 1-byte data ofminute, 1-byte data of second, and 1-byte clock set flag are recorded onone page.

[0070] In the IC recorder 1 having the aforementioned configuration, ifthe REC button 56 is pressed when no recording or reproduction iscarried out, the CPU 32 controls to write a sound data in thesemiconductor memory 9. It is assumed that in the semiconductor memory9, already six sound data pieces have been recorded as shown in FIG. 6.

[0071] More specifically, when the REC button 56 is pressed, the CPU 32reads out from the ROM 31 and executes a program corresponding to therecording operation so that the amplifier 12, the AGC 13, and theencoder 14 are actuated and a sound data delayed with a predeterminedtime via the buffer memory 15 is stored in the PCM data block of thesemiconductor memory 9.

[0072] For each of the data blocks, the CPU 32 stores a 512-byte sounddata ad creates a data of the recording year, month, day, hour, andminute to be recorded together with the sound data in the PCM datablock. The CPU 32 controls to write a sound data as one sound data piecein the PCM data blocks of the semiconductor memory 9 until the STOPbutton is pressed.

[0073] When the STOP button is pressed, the CPU 32 terminates to controlto record the sound data in the PCM data blocks and rewrites the TOCinformation of the memory 9. More specifically, the index stage block isrewritten.

[0074] In the ADR data block of the index stage block containing a filedata, the CPU 32 assigns an index number 01 to the 7-th sound data pieceand writes in a data of mode setting, start address, and end address.The CPU 32 changes the previous index numbers 01 to 06 respectively tothe index numbers 02 to 07 and writes in a data of the mode setting,start address, and end address of the respective index numbers.

[0075] This processing is illustrated in FIG. 11. The CPU 32 assigns theindex number 01 to the latest 7-th sound data piece recorded and shiftby 1 the previous index numbers 01 to 06 respectively to index numbers02 to 07 and rewrites the TOC information. That is, the latest sounddata piece is recorded in the memory 9 with the index number 1.

[0076] Next, explanation will be given on reproduction of a sound data.

[0077] If a user presses the jog dial shown in FIG. 2 in the directionof the arrow X when the apparatus 1 is in the stop state, the CPU 32resumes a reproduction. That is, according to an eternal blockrecognition data of the eternal block from the memory 9, the CPU 32recognizes the eternal block and reads out a data from this eternalblock. It should be noted that if the CPU 32 fails to recognize theeternal block shown in FIG. 3, the CPU 32 recognizes the back-up blockand reads out a data from this back-up block.

[0078] According to an index stage 0 address or index stage 1 address inthe eternal block or in the back-up block, the CPU 32 reads out a dataof the index stage block.

[0079] The CPU 32 uses the ADR data block of the index stage blockcontaining a file data to control read-out of a sound data from PCM datablocks. Here, the CPU 32 reads out a sound data in the order of indexnumber 01, index number 02, index number 03, . . . . More specifically,firstly, according to the start address(STH, STM) and end address (ENH,ENM) of the index number 01 in the ADR data block, the CPU 32 reads outa sound data of index number 01. The sound data which has been read outis converted into a sound signal via the decoder 21 and teh filter 22for supply to the loud speaker 24. Thus, the sound of index number 01 isoutputted from the loud speaker 24.

[0080] The CPU 32 continues read-out of the sound data from the memory 9until the STOP button 55 shown in FIG. 2 is pressed. That is, after thesound of index number 01 is outputted from the loud speaker 24, the CPU32 reads out a sound data of index number 02, a sound data of indexnumber 03, . . . in this order.

[0081] As has been described above, in the IC recorder 1, as shown inFIG. 11, when a new sound data is recorded, it is stored in thesemiconductor memory 9 as the latest sound data of index number 01 sothat reproduction is carried out in the order of index number 01, indexnumber 02, index number 03, . . . . This is because a sound data of asmaller index number tends to be more important than a sound data of agreater index number. The aforementioned control enables to set animportant sound data piece with an earlier index number. Thus, there isno need of searching an important latest sound piece, which enhancesoperationability.

[0082] In the IC recorder 1, it is also possible to add another sounddata to a sound data which has been recorded as an additional recording.Here, the CPU 32 executes a processing of step 1 and after shown in FIG.12.

[0083] For example, if a user presses the REC button 56 while the ICrecorder is reproducing a sound data of index number 02 (step S1), theCPU 32 actuates the timer 3 and determines whether the REC button 56 ispressed for 1 second or more (step S2). If it is determined that the RECbutton 56 has been pressed for 1 second or more, the CPU 32 interruptsthe reproduction of the sound data of index number 02 (step S3), and ifit is determined that the REC button 56 has not been pressed for 1second or more, the CPU 32 continues the reproduction.

[0084] After the reproduction is interrupted, the CPU 32 controls tostart recording of a sound inputted from the microphone 11 (step 4) andwrite the sound data in a PCM data block of the memory 9. The CPU 32continues the recording until the STOP button 55 is pressed or thestorage capacity of the semiconductor memory 9 becomes full (step S5).When the STOP button 55 is pressed or the storage capacity of thesemiconductor memory 9 has become full, i.e., there is no more area forwriting a sound data, the CPU terminates the recording (step S6).

[0085] After the reproduction is terminated, the CPU 32 executesrewriting of the TOC information of the sound data (step S7). Morespecifically, as shown in FIG. 13, in the ADR data block of the indexstage block containing a file data, the CPU 32 firstly writes a startaddress (STH, STM) and end address (ENH, ENM) of the index number 01 andindex number 02 which were present prior to the recording. Next, the CPU32 controls to write a start address and end address indicating therecording position of a new sound data which has been recordedadditionally as index number 02 and to write again the start address andthe like of the sound data of index number 03 and after which werepresent prior to the recording. Thus, the CPU 32 assigns an index number02 for a new sound data to be additionally recorded and writes its startaddress (STH, STM) and end address (ENH, ENM).

[0086] Consequently, in the C recorder 1, when the jog dial 60 isoperated and reproduction is started, sound data reproduction is carriedout in the order of index number 01, index number 02, . . . . Here, asshown in FIG. 14, the sound data piece additionally recorded isoutputted as index number 02 immediately after the sound data portion ofindex number 02 which has been recorded in advance.

[0087] That is, in the IC recorder 1, it is possible to select one piecefrom a plurality of pieces already recorded and additionally record anew piece to be added to the selected piece. Thus, the user can record anew data piece with a desired index number to be added to the selectedone of the pieces already recorded. This enables to significantlyenhance the operationability, eliminating time required for searching adesired piece. This additional recording can be carried out withoutchanging the operation block 50 and accordingly without increasingproduction costs.

[0088] In the aforementioned embodiment, explanation has been given on acase an additional recording mode is set in when the REC button 56 ispressed for 1 second or more while a predetermined file is read out fromthe memory 9 and reproduced, but the additional recording mode is not tobe limited to this case.

[0089] For example, the additional recording mode can be set by the CPU32 if the REC button 56 is pressed for predetermined period of time (forexample, 2 seconds) after the reproduction f file of index number 02 isinterrupted by a user. When the additional recording mode is set in, theCPU 32 executes the processing of step S4 and after so as to record anew sound data as of index number 02 in the semiconductor memory 9.

[0090] Next, explanation will be given on the reproduction operationusing the jog dial 60 and the configuration of the jog dial 60. In theIC recorder 1, a portion of the jog dial 60, i.e.;, a portion of therotational operation member which will be detailed later, is exposedfrom a cut-off portion 2 c formed on the upper half of the left sidesurface 2 b of the external casing 2. This jog dial 60 includes adisc-shaped rotation operation member 61 having a rotation center shaft62 and other members which will be detailed later and most of themembers of the jog dial are contained in the external casing 2 and onlya portion of the rotary operation member 61 is exposed outside from thecut-off portion 2 c. The rotation operation member 61 of the jog dial 60can be rotated around the rotation center shaft 62 in the directions ofA and B indicated in FIG. 2.

[0091] Furthermore, the rotary operation member 61 of the jog dial 60 isprovided in such a manner that the rotary center shaft 62 can be movedin side the external casing 2 in the directions of X and Y indicated inFIG. 2. In a normal state, i.e., when the jog dial 60 is in anon-operation state, the member 61 is urged by a spring (not depicted)in the direction of arrow Y so that a portion of the member 61 protrudesfrom the cut-off portion 2 c. Accordingly, the rotary operation member61 of the jog dal 60 can be operated by a user so as to rotate in thedirections of arrow A and arrow B indicated in FIG. 2 as well as to moveby pressing along plane whch almost orthogonally intersects the rotationcenter shaft 62, i.e., in the direction indicated by arrow X in FIG. 2,which brings the rotary operation member 61 inside the external casing2.

[0092] When this rotary operation member 61 is rotated in the directionof arrow A or B indicated in FIG. 2, the jog dial 60 supplies an outputsignal according to the rotation angle and rotation speed to the controlblock 30. When this rotary operation member 61 is pressed in thedirection of arrow X indicated in FIG. 2, an output signal correspondingto the pressing time of the member 61 is supplied to the control block30. More specifically, in the IC recorder 1, the control block 30detects the rotation direction, rotation angle, and rotation speed ofthe rotary operation member 61, or detects whether the rotary operationmember 61 is pressed and whether the pressing of the rotary operationmember 61 exceeds a predetermined period of time. The control block 30reads out a program from the ROM 31 corresponding to a detection resultand executes the program so as to control the operation of therespective components of the apparatus 1. It should be noted that thecontrol operation by this control block 30 will be detailed later.

[0093] This jog dial 60 is operated by a user in various cases includinga case to carry out various operations in reproduction or a case tomodify the initial setting of the aforementioned date and time. That is,this jog dial 60 is used with a high frequency. For this, the jog dial60 is provided at the side surface of the external casing 2 as shown inFIG. 2 so that the user can hold the external casing 2 with his/her lefthand and rotate and press the rotary operation member 61 which partiallyprotrudes from the cut-off portion 2 c with his/her left hand thumbalone.

[0094] Referring to FIG. 15A, FIG. 15B, and FIG. 16, configuration ofthis jog dial 60 will be detailed below. FIG. 15A is a front view of thejog dial 60, i.e., an external view from the main surface 2 a of theexternal casing 2. FIG. 15B is an external view from the rear face. Asshown in FIG. 15A and FIG. 15B, the jog dial 60 includes theaforementioned rotary operation member 61, a base member on which thisrotary operation member 61 is attached, a leaf-spring-shaped electrode64, and four terminals a, b, c, and d which are mounted on the basemember 63.

[0095] The base member 63 is made from an insulating material and has amain surface portion 63a attached inside the external casing 2 so thatthe entire jog dial 60 is fixed to the external casing 2. As shown inFIG. 15B, the base member 63 has a cut-off portion 65 of an ellipticshape having a longer axis in the direction of arrows X and Y. In thecut-off portion 65 is fitted the rotation center shaft 62 of a circularshape provided at the center of one main surface 61 a of the rotaryoperation member 61 in such a manner that the shaft 62 can be rotatedand shifted in the directions indicated by the arrows X and Y in FIG.15B along a plane which almost orthogonally intersects the rotationcenter shaft 62.

[0096] The electrode 64, as shown in FIG. 15A, is made from a leafspring which has been bent. The electrode 64 has a base end fixed to thebase member 00. The plurality of terminals a, b, c, and d attached tothe base member 63 are respectively connected to the control block 30shown in FIG. 1. Here, the terminals a and b function to output anoutput signal based on the rotation of the rotary operation member 61.The terminal d functions to supply an input signal based on the pressingof the rotary operation member 61 in the direction of arrow X. Theterminal c serves as a common grounding for the terminals a, b, and d.

[0097] When the rotary operation member 61 is pressed in the directionof arrow X, a tip end 64 a of the electrode 64 is moved in the directionindicated by arrow X and brought into contact with the other electrode(not depicted). When the electrode 64 is brought into contact with thisother electrode (not depicted), the jog dal 60 supplies an output signalfrom terminal d to the control block 30 which signal indicating that therotary operation member 61 is pressed by the user. When the pressing ofthe rotary operation member 61 is stopped, the contact between theelectrode 64 and the other electrode (not depicted) is released andsupply of the output signal from terminal d to the control block 30 isterminated. The control block 30 detects the output signal supplied fromterminal d indicating that the rotary operation member 61 is pressed anddetects whether supply of this signal from terminal d has continued fora predetermined period of time. According to a result of the detection,the control block 30 reads out from the ROM 31 a program correspondingto the detection result and executes operation or control according tothe program which has been read out.

[0098] As shown in FIG. 16, when the rotary operation member 61 isrotated in the direction of arrow A or B, the jog dial 60 outputs a2-phase pulse signal. That is, if the rotary operation member 61 isrotated clockwise, i.e., in the direction of arrow B, a signal α isoutputted from between the terminals a-c and a signal β, from betweenthe terminals b-c with different phases from each other. Similarly, ifthe rotary operation member 61 is rotated counterclockwise, i.e., in thedirection of arrow A, a signal α is outputted from between terminals a-cand a signal β, from between the terminals b-c with different phasesfrom each other. As shown in FIG. 16, a pulse signal is outputted insuch a manner that when the rotary operation member 61 is rotatedclockwise, the signal β is slightly delayed from the signal α, and whenthe rotary operation member 61 is rotated counterclockwise, the signal αis slightly delayed from signal β. Consequently, the control block 30can identify the rotation direction of the rotary operation member 61 bydetecting which of the signals α and β has a delayed phase.

[0099] While the jog dial 60 is rotated by 360 degrees clockwise orcounterclockwise, a pulse is generated 15 times by the signal α andsignal β, respectively. That is, when the rotary operation member 61 isrotated by {fraction (1/15)} turn (24 degrees), a pulse is generated byonce by the signal α and signal β, respectively. Consequently, thecontrol block 30 can detect the rotation angle of the rotary operationmember 61 by counting the number of pulses by using the counter 35.Furthermore, by counting the number of pulses for a predetermined periodof time by using the counter 35, the control block 30 can detect arotation speed of the rotary operation member 61.

[0100] In the IC recorder 1 having the aforementioned configuration, forexample, if the FILE button 51 is pressed prior to carrying out arecording, the control block 30 controls to read out a data from the ROM31 and icons corresponding to various files appear on the liquid crystalpanel 41. One of the icons on the display panel 41 can be selected byrotating the rotary operation member 61 of the jog dial 60 in thedirection of arrow A or B in FIG. 2 and the selected icon can bespecified by pressing the rotary operation member 61 in the direction ofarrow X so that a new sound data will be stored in the specified file.If the MENU button 52 is pressed prior to carrying out a recording, thecontrol block 30 reads out from the ROM 31 a data on the initial settingand a initial setting state appears on the liquid crystal display panel41. In order to modify a current initial setting, the rotary operationmember 61 is rotated in the direction of arrow A or B so as to select atarget item. When this selection is complete, the rotary operationmember 61 is pressed in the direction of arrow X so that the selecteditem can be modified. In this state, the rotary operation member 61 isrotated and pressed to modify the initial setting.

[0101] When the REC start button 55 of the IC recorder 1 is pressed, theIC recorder 1 enters a recording start state. When the user speakssomething toward the microphone 11, a sound data is written in a PCMdata block of the semiconductor memory 9 specified by the aforementionedoperation of the jog dial 60. When the STOP button is pressed, therecording state is released. When the sound data is recorded in thesemiconductor memory 9, the aforementioned TOC information and a data onthe file number and index number are created as an auxiliary data or amanagement data by the control block 30 and written into the memory 9.

[0102] Next, explanation will be given on reproduction of a sound datarecorded or stored in the IC recorder 1. In the same way as inrecording, for example, the FILE button 51 is pressed so that a data isread out from the ROM 31 by the control block 30 and icons correspondingto various files appear on the liquid crystal panel 41. The rotaryoperation member 61 of the jog dial 60 is rotated in the direction ofarrow A or B to select one of the icons on the liquid crystal panel 41.When the selection is complete, the rotary operation member 61 ispressed in the direction of arrow X so as to specify the selected iconso that a sound data stored in PCM data blocks of the specified filewill be reproduced. On the liquid crystal panel 41 of FIG. 2, only 02/37associated with the index number is displayed for convenience ofexplanation, but actually, various icons and time appear on the liquidcrystal panel 41. In the example of FIG. 2, the denominator 37represents the number of sound data pieces stored in the memory 9, andthe numerator 02 represents the index number which is currentlyreproduced or which can be reproduced immediately. In this case, a filecontains 37 sound data pieces stored in the memory 9 and a sound data ofindex number 02 is being reproduced or in a state to be reproducedimmediately.

[0103] Here, when the IC recorder 1 is in the state to be reproducedimmediately, reproduction of the sound data of the selected index numberis started by operating the rotary operation member 61 of the jog dial60 as follows.

[0104] When the rotary operation member 61 is rotated counterclockwise,i.e., in the direction of arrow A, the control block 30 executes aforward search. More specifically, according to the number of pulsesbased on the signals α and β shown in FIG. 16, the control block 30reads out later index numbers from the semiconductor memory 9 so as tobe successively displayed on the liquid crystal panel 41 (in this case,03/37, 04/37, 05/37 . . . ). On the other hand, if the jog dial 60 isrotated clockwise, i.e., in the direction of arrow B, the control blockexecutes a backward search. More specifically, according to the numberof pulses based on the signals α and β, the control block 30 reads outearlier index numbers from the semiconductor memory 9 (in this case, 01,37, 36 . . . ) so as to be successively displayed on the liquid crystalpanel 41.

[0105] When the user has found the index number of the sound data to bereproduced and presses the rotary operation member 61, the control block30 detects an output signal supplied from the terminal d of the jog dial60 and controls to read out from the memory 9 the sound datacorresponding to the index number selected by operation of the jog dial60 and start reproduction of the sound data. In this reproduction state,if the rotary operation member 61 is pressed in the direction of arrow Xfor a short period of time (hereinafter, this operation will be referredto as a short pressing), the control block 30 controls to terminate thesound data reproduction. If the rotary operation member 61 is pressed inthe direction of arrow X in this reproduction state for a period of timelonger than a predetermined period of time (hereinafter, this operationwill be referred to as a long pressing), the control block 30 executes arepeat reproduction which will be detailed later.

[0106] Next, explanation will be given on various functions uponreproduction in the IC recorder 1. The IC recorder 1 has, during areproduction, a function of cue/review reproduction, a function ofrepeat reproduction, and a function of scan reproduction. Thesefunctions can be selected and executed by operating the rotary operationmember 61 of the jog dial 60 alone.

[0107]FIG. 17 shows operations of the rotary operation member 61associated with the cue/review reproduction in relation to thereproduction state transition. Note that in FIG. 17, the rotaryoperation member 61 is indicated simply as JOG. In order to carry outthe cue/review, when or after starting a reproduction, this rotaryoperation member 61 is continuously pressed in the direction of arrow Xwhile rotated in the direction of arrow A or B by a predetermined angle.As shown in FIG. 7, in this embodiment, if the rotary operation member61 is continuously pressed in the direction of arrow X while rotatedcounterclockwise, i.e., in the direction of arrow A, the control block30 controls to execute a cue reproduction, and if the rotary operationmember is continuously pressed in the direction of arrow X while rotatedclockwise, i.e., in the direction of arrow B, control is made to carryout a review reproduction. This cue/review reproduction operation iscontinuously carried out while the rotary operation member 61 ismaintained in the pressed state in the direction of arrow X, assumingthat, for example, a sound data is reproduced with a speed 10 timesfaster than a normal reproduction speed. On the other hand, if thepressing of the rotary operation ember 61 in the direction of arrow X isreleased and supply of the output signal from the terminal d of the jobdial 60 terminates, the control block 30 terminates this cue/reviewreproduction operation and switches the mode to the normal speedreproduction. As shown in FIG. 17, the control block 30 also controls toswitch the mode to the normal speed reproduction if the rotary operationmember 61 is rotated clockwise, i.e., in the direction of arrow B duringa cue reproduction, or if the rotary operation member 61 is rotatedcounterclockwise, i.e., in the direction of arrow A during a reviewreproduction.

[0108] In the embodiment of the present invention, when the cuereproduction reaches the end of the sound data stored in the memory 9,control is made to interrupt the cue reproduction and set the mode tothe head of the last sound data stored in the memory 9. On the otherhand, when the review reproduction reaches the first sound data storedin the memory 9, control is made to interrupt the review reproductionand set mode to the head of the sound data stored in the memory 9. Thus,in the IC recorder 1, control is made in such a manner that a cuereproduction or a review reproduction will not be terminated other thanat the first and the last positions of the sound data stored in thememory 9. For example, a cue reproduction or a review reproduction willnot be terminated at a sound data of index number 03 when a sound dataof index numbers 01 to 10 is stored.

[0109] If a long pressing of the rotary operation member 61 is carriedout during a sound data reproduction, the control block 30 executes arepeat reproduction of the sound data piece which is being reproduced.In the embodiment of the present invention, the sound data piece whichhas been reproduced is repeatedly reproduced by the repeat reproduction.During this repeat reproduction, if the rotary operation member 61 ispressed again in the direction of arrow X or rotated in the direction ofarrow A or B, the repeat reproduction is released and mode is switchedto the normal reproduction. Also, if the STOP button 54 or ERASE button56 is pressed during a repeat reproduction, the repeat reproduction isreleased and the normal reproduction mode is set in.

[0110] As shown in FIG. 18, if a long pressing of the rotary operationmember 61 is carried out in the state to be reproduced immediately or inthe stop state, the control block 30 executes a scan reproduction. Thatis, if the rotary operation member 61 is continuously pressed in thedirection of arrow X for a predetermined period of time in the state tobe reproduced immediately, the control block 30, according to an outputsignal from the terminal d, detects the period of time during which therotary operation member 61 is pressed and controls to start a scanreproduction. Here, the scan reproduction is a reproduction method asfollows. When a plurality of sound data pieces are stored in a file ofthe memory 9, starting portions of the respective sound data piecesstored in the file are reproduced intermittently and successively for apredetermined period of time (5 seconds for example) for each of thedata pieces. Note that in FIG. 18, the rotary operation member 61 isindicated simply as JOG.

[0111] Here, the control block 30 determines whether to execute a scanreproduction by detecting, for example, whether an output signal fromterminal d of the jog dial 60 based on the pressing of the rotaryoperation member 61 in the direction of arrow X is detected for 3seconds or more continuously. That is, if the output signal from theterminal d is detected for 3 seconds or more from a start of pressing ofthe rotary operation member 61, the control block 30 controls to executea scan reproduction, and if less than 3 seconds from the start ofpressing, the control block 30 executes a normal mode reproduction.

[0112] After a scan reproduction is started, the scan reproductioncontinues even if the pressing of the rotary operation member 30 in thedirection of arrow X is released. When the scan reproduction of the lastsound data piece of the file which is being scan-reproduced is complete,the control block 30 stops the IC recorder 1 at the head of the firstsound data piece of the file which has been scan-reproduced.@

[0113] During a scan reproduction, if the rotary operation member 61 isrotated in the direction of arrow A or B, the control block 30 controlsto switch to a scan reproduction of a sound data of an index numberearlier or later by a count value of the counter 35 determined by thenumber of pulse signals generated by the rotation of the rotaryoperation member 61. During this scan reproduction, if a target voice isheard from the loud speaker 24, the user presses the rotary operationmember 61 in the direction of arrow X while the target sound data isbeing reproduced. When the rotary operation member 61 is pressed, asshown in FIG. 18, the control block 30 controls to switch to a normalmode reproduction. Thus, by pressing the member 61 while a scanreproduction is in progress, it is possible to hear the target sounddata from the beginning to the end. If the STOP button 54 is pressedduring a scan reproduction, the control block 30, according to an inputsignal fro the operation block 50, releases the scan reproduction andenters a stop state.

[0114] In this example, if the ERASE button 56, the FILE button 51, orthe PRIORITY button 53 is pressed during a scan reproduction, thecontrol block 30 invalidates the input signal issued by pressing thesebutton regardless of the ON/OFF state of the HOLD switch.

[0115] In the IC recorder 1, when the rotary operation member 61 isrotated in the direction of arrow A or B, as has been described above,the control block 30 detects the signals α and β based on the outputfrom the terminals a, b, and c of the jog dial 60 to determine therotation speed of the rotary operation member 61 and executes aprocessing corresponding to the detected speed.

[0116]FIG. 18 also shows a processing carried out when the rotaryoperation member 61 is rotated from the STOP state. As shown in FIG. 18,when the rotary operation member 61 is rotated counterclockwise, i.e.,in the direction of arrow A from the STOP state, if the rotation speedof the rotary operation member 61 is slow, the control block 30 controlsto execute a forward direction search piece by piece and to incrementthe index number on the liquid crystal panel 41 one by one as the searchproceeds. On the other hand, if the rotation speed of the rotaryoperation member 61 in the direction of arrow A is fast, the controlblock 30 controls to execute a forward direction search while skipping anumber of pieces and to increment the index number of the liquid crystaldisplay panel 41 by more than one at once.

[0117] Similarly, when the rotary operation member 61 is rotatedclockwise, i.e., in the direction of arrow B from the STOP state at aslow rotation speed, the control block 30 controls to execute a backwarddirection search piece by piece and decrement the index number on theliquid crystal display panel 41 one by one. On the other hand, if therotation speed of the rotary operation member 61 in the direction ofarrow B is fast, the control block 30 executes a backward directionsearch while skipping a number of pieces and decrement the index numberon the liquid crystal display panel 41 by more than one at once.

[0118] Thus, in the IC recorder 1, even if a plenty of sound data piecesare stored in the semiconductor memory 9 with the corresponding indexnumbers, it is possible to carry out a fast rotation of the rotaryoperation member 61 so that a number of index numbers are skipped so asto quickly find a target index number, i.e., to display the target indexnumber on the liquid crystal display panel 41. Accordingly, in this ICrecorder 1, an index number search prior to a reproduction issignificantly improved, enabling to quickly reproduce a target sounddata with a simple operation.

[0119]FIG. 19 shows a processing carried out when the rotary operationmember 61 is rotated in the direction of arrow A or B from a sound datareproduction state. As shown in FIG. 19, in the IC recorder 1, when therotary operation member 61 is rotated counterclockwise, i.e., in thedirection of arrow A from a reproduction state with a slow rotationspeed, the control block 30 controls to execute a forward directionsearch piece by piece. More specifically, the control block 30 controlsto increase the index number on the liquid crystal panel 41 one by oneand start reproduction at the head of a sound data of the displayedindex number. On the other hand, if the rotary operation member 61 isrotated with a fast rotation speed, the control block controls toexecute a forward direction search while skipping a number of pieces.More specifically, the control bloc 30 controls to increment the indexnumber on the liquid crystal panel 41 by more than one at once and starta reproduction at the head of a sound data corresponding to thedisplayed index number.

[0120] Similarly, when the rotary operation member 61 is rotatedclockwise, i.e., in the direction of B from a reproduction state, if therotation speed f the rotary operation member 61 is slow, the controlblock 30 controls to execute a backward direction search piece by piece.More specifically, the control block 30 controls to decrement the indexnumber on the liquid crystal display panel 41 one by one and startreproduction at the head of a sound data corresponding to the displayedindex number. On the other hand, if the rotation speed of the rotaryoperation member 61 is fast, the control block 30 controls to execute abackward direction search while skipping a number of pieces. Morespecifically, the control block 30 controls to decrement the indexnumber of the liquid crystal display panel 41 by more than one at onceand start reproduction at the head of a sound data corresponding to thedisplayed index number.

[0121] Thus, in the IC recorder 1, even if there are a number of sounddata pieces stored in the semiconductor memory 9, a simple operation offast rotation of the rotary operation member 61 enables to quickly findand reproduce the head portion of a target sound data by skipping anumber of sound data pieces. This significantly enhances the sound datasearch efficiency during a reproduction.

[0122] As has been described above, in the IC recorder 1, variousfunctions are assigned to the jog dial 60. This enables to improve theoperationability as well as to reduce the size and weight of the entireapparatus. More specifically, a user can carry out all the basicoperations during a reproduction with his/her left hand thumb alone torotate and press the rotary operation member 61 without moving his/herfingers here and there. Because a number of functions are assigned tothe jog dial 60, it s possible to reduce the number of operation buttonsand switches as a whole, which facilitates operation of the IC recorder1 in the visual way as well as realizes reduction of the size and weightof the entire apparatus.

[0123] The aforementioned storage and reproduction apparatus accordingto the present invention uses a semiconductor memory. The presentinvention is not to be limited to the aforementioned embodiment but canbe applied to recording apparatuses in general, especially portable typeapparatuses which can easily be carried. In the aforementionedembodiment, a sound data recording and reproduction apparatus wasdetailed, but the present invention may be a recording and reproductionapparatus for recording/reproducing other than a sound data such as avideo data.

What is claimed is:
 1. A storage and reproducing apparatus comprising: amemory for storing a data entered and an auxiliary data of said dataentered; a reproduction block for reproducing a data read out from saidmemory. an operation block provided on an apparatus main body, saidoperation block having a rotary operation block provided on saidapparatus main body in such a manner that said rotary operation blockcan be rotated around a rotation center and shifted along a plane whichalmost orthogonally intersects said rotation center; and a control blockfor writing a data and an auxiliary data into said memory and readingout a data stored in said memory, according to an input from saidoperation block, wherein said control block reads out an auxiliary datafrom said memory according to a rotation direction of said rotaryoperation block, and when said rotary operation block is shifted alongsaid plane, said control block reads out a data from said memoryaccording to an auxiliary data read out from said memory so that saiddata is reproduced by said reproduction block.
 2. A storage andreproducing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein when said rotaryoperation block is shifted along said plane during a reproductionoperation by said reproduction block, said control block terminates saidreproduction operation by said reproduction block.
 3. A storage andreproducing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein when said rotaryoperation block is in a shifted position along said plane for more thana predetermined period of time during a reproduction operation by saidreproduction block, said control block repeatedly reproduces a datawhich is being reproduced by said reproduction bloc.
 4. A storage andreproducing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein when said rotaryoperation block is roated in the shifted position along said plane aftera reproduction by said reproduction block is started or when areproduction is in progress, said control block executes a high speedreproduction of a data read out from said memory by said reproductionblock whle said rotary operation block is in said shifted position alongsaid plane.
 5. A storage and reproduction apparatus as claimed in claim4, wherein when the said rotary operation block is released from saidshifted position along said plane, said control block switches saidreproduction block to a normal reproduction state.
 6. A storage andreproducing apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein when said rotaryoperation block is further in said shifted position along said plane fora predetermined period of time, said control block repeatedly reproducesa data which is being reproduced by said reproduction block, and afterthis if said rotary operation block is shifted along said plane orrotated, said control block switches said reproduction block to a normalreproduction state.
 7. A storage and reproducing apparatus as claimed inclaim 1, wherein if said rotary operation block is in a shifted positionalong said plane for a predetermined period of time when said apparatusis in a stop state, said control block intermittently reads out a datastored in said memory so that the data is reproduced by saidreproduction block.
 8. A storage and reproducing apparatus as claimed inclaim 7, wherein if sad rotary operation block is not in the shiftedposition along said plane for the predetermined period of time, thecontrol block executes a normal reproduction by said reproduction block.9. A storage and reproducing apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein ifsaid rotary operation block is shifted along said plane while said datais intermittently read out and reproduced by said reproduction block,said control block controls to execute a normal reproduction by saidreproduction block.
 10. A storage and reproducing apparatus as claimedin claim 7, wherein if said rotary operation block is rotated while saiddata is intermittently read out and reproduced by said reproductionblock, said control block, according to a rotation amount of said rotaryoperation block, modifies a data to be read out from said memory andcontinues said intermittent data read-out and reproduction by saidreproduction block.
 11. A storage and reproducing apparatus as claimedin claim 1, said apparatus further comprising a display block fordisplaying an auxiliary data read out from said memory according to arotation direction of said rotary oepration block.
 12. A storage andreproducing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said control blockrewrites said auxiliary data so that a new data written in said memoryis read out earlier than a data which has already been written in saidmemory.
 13. A storage and reproducing apparatus as claimed in claim 12,wherein said auxiliary data includes a start address and end address ofa data stored in said memory and a data indicating a reproduction order.14. A storage and reproducing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, whereinif during a reproduction operation by said operation block saidoperation block enters an instruction to write a further data in saidmemory, said control block interrupts the reproduction operation by saidreproduction block and starts writing of the further data into saidmemory.
 15. A storage and reproducing apparatus as claimed in claim 14,wherein said control blocks rewrites said auxiliary data so that saidfurther data written in said memory is read out from said memorycontinuously after the data whose reproduction has been interrupted bysaid reproduction bloc.
 16. A storage and reproducing apparatus asclaimed in claim 1, wherein said memory stores said entered data asdivided into predetermined storage units and a management data forreading out an auxiliary data corresponding to each of said units ofsaid entered data which management data is written in a position otherthan a start address and end address of each of said storage units. 17.A storage and reproducing apparatus as claimed in claim 16, wherein saidmemory has a back-up area for writing a back-up data of said managementdata and when said management data cannot be read out, said controlblock reads out said management data stored in said back-up area of saidmemory.
 18. A storage and reproducing apparatus comprising; a memory forstoring a data entered and a management data of said entered data; areproduction block for reproducing a data which is read out from saidmemory; an operation block provided on an apparatus main body; and acontrol block for executing write-in of a data and a management data andread-out of a data stored in said memory according to an input from saidoperation block, wherein said control block rewrites said managementdata so that a new data written in said memory is read out earlier thana data which has already been stored in said memory.
 19. A storage andreproducing apparatus as claimed in claim 18, wherein said managementdata includes a start address and end address of a data stored in saidmemory and a data indicating a reproduction order.
 20. A storage andreproducing apparatus as claimed in claim 18, wherein if an instructionto write a further data into said memory is entered by said operationblock during a reproduction operation by said reproduction block, saidcontrol block interrupts the reproduction operation by said reproductionblock and starts writing of the further data into said memory.
 21. Astorage and reproducing apparatus as claimed in claim 20, wherein saidcontrol block rewrites said management data so that said further datawritten into said memory is read out from said memory continuously aftersaid data whose reproduction has been interrupted.
 22. A storage andreproducing apparatus as claimed in claim 18, wherein said memory storessaid entered data as divided into predetermined storage units and afurther management data for reading out a management data correspondingto each of said units of said entered data, said further management databeing written in a position other than a start address and end addressof each of said storage units.
 23. A storage and reproducing apparatusas claimed in claim 21, wherein said memory has a back-up area forwriting a back-up data of said further management data and when saidmanagement data cannot be read out, said control block reads out saidmanagement data stored in said back-up area of said memory.
 24. Astorage and reproducing apparatus comprising; a memory for storing adata entered and a management data of said entered data; a reproductionblock for reproducing a data which is read out from said memory; anoperation block provided on an apparatus main body; and a control blockfor executing write-in of a data and a management data and read-out of adata stored in said memory according to an input from said operationblock, wherein if during a reproduction operation by said reproductionblock an instruction to write a further data into said memory is enteredby said operation block, said control block interrupts said reproductionoperation and starts writing of the further data into said memory.
 25. Astorage and reproducing apparatus as claimed in claim 24, wherein saidcontrol block rewrites said management data so that said further datawritten into said memory is read out from said memory continuously aftersaid data whose reproduction has been interrupted.
 26. A storage andreproducing apparatus as claimed in claim 24, wherein said control blockrewrites said management data so that a new data written in said memoryis read out earlier than a data which has already been stored in saidmemory.
 27. A storage and reproducing apparatus as claimed in claim 24,wherein said management data includes a start address and end address ofa data stored in said memory and a data indicating a reproduction order.28. A storage and reproducing apparatus as claimed in claim 24, whereinsaid memory stores said entered data as divided into predeterminedstorage units and a further management data for reading out a managementdata corresponding to each of said units of said entered data, saidfurther management data being written in a position other than a startaddress and end address of each of said storage units.
 29. A storage andreproducing apparatus as claimed in claim 28, wherein said memory has aback-up area for writing a back-up data of said further management dataand when said management data cannot be read out, said control blockreads out said management data stored in said back-up area of saidmemory.
 30. A storage and reproducing apparatus comprising: a signalprocessing block for converting a sound signal entered, into a digitalsignal; a memory for storing a digital signal outputted from said signalprocessing block and a management data of said digital signal; areproduction block for reproducing a digital signal which is read outfrom said memory; an operation block provided on an apparatus main body,said operation block has a rotary operation block provided on saidapparatus main body in such a manner that said rotary operation blockcan be rotated around a rotation center and shifted along a plane whichalmost orthogonally intersects said rotation center; and a control blockfor executing, according to an input from said operation block, write-inof a digital signal and a management data into said memory and read-outof a digital signal and a management data stored in said memory, whereinsaid control block reads out a management data from said memoryaccording to a rotation direction of said rotary operation block andwhen said rotary operation block is shifted along said plane, saidcontrol block reads out a digital signal from said memory according tothe management data which is read out from said memory.
 31. A storageand reproducing apparatus as claimed in claim 30, wherein if said rotaryoperation block is shifted along said plane during a reproductionoperation by said reproduction block, said control block interrupts thereproduction operation by said reproduction block.
 32. A storage andreproducing apparatus as claimed in claim 30, wherein if said rotaryoperation block is in a shifted state along said plane for more than apredetermined period of time during a reproduction operation by saidreproduction block, said control block repeatedly reproduces a datawhich is being reproduced by said reproduction block.
 33. A storage andreproducing apparatus as claimed in claim 30, wherein if said rotaryoperation block is rotated in a shifted position after a reproduction bysaid reproduction block is started or while a reproduction is inprogress, said control block executes a high speed reproduction of adata which is read out from said memory by said reproduction block,while said rotary operation block is in said shifted position along saidplane.
 34. A storage and reproducing apparatus as claimed in claim 33,wherein said control block switches said reproduction block to a normalreproduction state when said rotary operation block is released fromsaid shifted position along said plane.
 35. A storage and reproductionapparatus as claimed in claim 34, wherein if said rotary operation blockis further in the shifted position for a predetermined period of time,said control block repeatedly reproduces a data which is beingreproduced by said reproduction block and after this when said rotaryoperation block is shifted along said plane or rotated, said controlblock switches said reproduction block to a normal reproduction state.36. A storage and reproducing apparatus as claimed in claim 30, whereinif said rotary operation block is shifted while said apparatus is in astop state and in a shifted position for a predetermined time, saidcontrol block intermittently reads out a data stored in said memory soas to be reproduced by said reproduction block.
 37. A storage andreproducing apparatus as claimed in claim 36, wherein if said rotaryoperation block is not in said shifted position for a predeterminedperiod of time while said apparatus is in the stop state, said controlblock executes a normal reproduction by said reproduction block.
 38. Astorage and reproducing apparatus as claimed in claim 36, wherein ifsaid rotary operation block s shifted along said plane while said datais intermittently read out to be reproduced by said reproduction block,said control block executes a normal reproduction by said reproductionblock.
 39. A storage and reproducing apparatus as claimed in claim 36,wherein if said rotary operation block is rotated while said data isintermittently read out to be reproduced by said reproduction block,said control block, according to a rotation amount of said rotaryoperation block, switches to another data to be read out from saidmemory and continues said intermittent data read-out and reproduction bysaid reproduction block.
 40. A storage and reproducing apparatus asclaimed in claim 30, said apparatus further comprising a display blockfor displaying an auxiliary data which is read out from said memoryaccording to a rotation direction of said rotary operation block.
 41. Astorage and reproducing apparatus as claimed in claim 30, wherein saidcontrol block rewrite said management data so that a new data writteninto said memory is read out earlier than a data which has already beenstored in said memory.
 42. A storage and reproducing apparatus asclaimed in claim 41, wherein said management data includes a startaddress and end address of a data stored in said memory and a dataindicating a reproduction order.
 43. A storage and reproducing apparatusas claimed in claim 30, wherein if an instruction to write a furtherdata into said memory is entered by said operation block during areproduction operation by said reproduction block, said control blockinterrupts the reproduction operation by said reproduction block andstarts writing of the further data into said memory.
 44. A storage andreproducing apparatus as claimed in claim 43, wherein said control blockrewrites said management data so that said further data written intosaid memory is read out continuously after the data whose reproductionby said reproduction block has been interrupted.
 45. A storage andreproducing apparatus as claimed in claim 30, wherein said memory storessaid entered data as divided into predetermined storage units and afurther management data for reading out a management data correspondingto each of said storage units of said entered data, said furthermanagement data being written at a position other than a start addressand end address of each of said storage units.
 46. A storage andreproducing apparatus as claimed in claim 45, wherein said memory has aback-up area for writing a back-up data of said further management dataand when said management data cannot be read out, said control blockreads out the management data stored in said back-up area of saidmemory.